Control console for an appliance



Jan. 8, 1963 D. D. SHEELEY 3,072,782

CONTROL CONSOLE FOR AN APPLIANCE Filed May 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IJNVENTOR. David 0. .Shee/ey His Aflamey Jan. 8, 1963 D. o. SHEELEY3,072,782

CONTROL CONSOLE FOR AN APPLIANCE Filed May 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. David 0. Shea/ey His ome United States Patent Ofitice aarzaszPatented Jan. 8, 1953 3,072,782 CONTROL CONSOLE FOR AN APPLIANCE DavidD. Sheeley, Harper Woods, Mich. assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 16, 1960, Ser. No.29,312 2 Claims. (Cl. 2402) This invention relates to a domesticappliance and more particularly to a pivotally mounted lamp housing fora control panel.

The trend in modern home design is to install many of todays majorappliances in the kitchen area or in areas frequently entered byvisitors to the home. Consequent- 1y, these appliances are accessible tosmall children and exposed to the view of visitors. Laundry'appliancesin particular are installed in such places and the control panelsthereof impart a rather mechanized character to the area. Accordingly,it is an object of this invention to provide a domestic appliance with alamp housing which is effective in one position to illuminate thecontrols and effective in another position to illuminate the room inwhich the appliance is installed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control panel for adomestic appliance with a cover Wl'llCh may be pivotally positioned toconceal such control panel.

It is also a general object of this invention to provide a control panelwhich may be easily serviced from the front thereof.

A more specific object of this invention is the prov sion of a lamphousing for a control panel which is yieldingly latched in a raisedposition to illuminate the canrol panel and yieldingly resistinglypivoted to a lowered position for concealing the control panel.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

111 the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a domestic appliancehaving a pivotal lamp housing in its closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a domestic appliancehaving a pivotal lamp housing in its open position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a control housing with its lamp housingin raised position taken generally along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3..

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE 1, adomestic appliance 10, such as a clothes washer, is illustrated. Theappliance 10 has a cabinet 12 closed at the top thereof by a hinged door14. Disposed on the top of the cabinet 12 is a combination control andlamp housing or console shown generally at 16. The console 16 iscomprised of a control housing 18 and an upper lamp housing or coverportion 29; Disposed at each end of the control housing 18 is a metaldie cast control housing end frame 22, 23, each of which includes anupper lamp housing support wall portion 17 which merges with an inwardlysloping integral lower wall portion 19. Each wall portion 17 has a pin24 on which the upper lamp housing 20 is pivotally mounted for movementbetween a raised position shown in FIGURE 2 and a lowered position shownin FIGURE 1. In the raised position of the upper lamp housing 20, acontrol panel 26 is uncovered to reveal a plurality of control knobs,such as 28, and cycle selecting buttons, such as 30. Since the upperlamp housing 2 -9 is cut out to expose a translucent panel portion 32 onits underside and another translucent panel portion 34 on the topthereof, the lamp housing is eifective in the arrangement of FIGURE 1 toilluminate the area surrounding the appliance. With the lamp housing 20in its raised position of FIGURE 2, the translucent Wall 32 illuminatesthe control panel 26.

Turning now to FIGURE 3, the structure will best be understood. Sinceeach control housing end 22, 23 is the mirror of the other, anexplanation of the end 23 will sufiice for both. cast and includeshorizontal bottom flanges 49, 42 which rest on the top of the cabinet 12to receive fastening means, such as 44, for holding the control housingends to the cabinet. The end housing 23 includes also an integral boss46, 48 for supporting a transverse U-shaped control support channel 50which extends from one control housing end 22 to the other housing end23. Fastening means, such as bolts 52, are used to secure this elongatedchannel and to add transverse stability to the upstanding controlhousing ends 22 and 23. The integral upstanding front and back legs 68and '78 of the U-shaped support channel are formed with shoulders 56,54, respectively, to receive a glass or plastic panel 58 through whichthe control indicia may be selectively visible. Note that the controlswitch means, such as 68 are fastened to the underside of the botom wall62 of the support channel 54 the control knob 28 extending through thepanel 58 as well as the channel wall 62.

For retaining the control panel 58 on the shoulders 54 and 56, a reartrim strip 64 coextensive with the support channel 50 is fastened, as at66, to the leg 68 of the channel 50. At the front of the control housing18, a second trim strip 70 forms the front wall thereof and seats ateach end on a notched out shoulder 72, 74 in the lower wall portions 19of the respective control housing end frames 22, 23. The trim strip 70forms a smooth coplanar front wall for the control housing with the endframes 22, 23 and is held in place by screws 76 which extend intofastening engagement with the upstanding leg 78 of the support channelStl. Note that the trim strip 70 has a top flange 80 which overlies thefront edge of the control panel 58 to hold it in position on theshoulder 54. It is thus seen that access is gained to the controlssimply by removing the screws '76 and the front trim '76. After removingthe knobs, such as 28 and 3t and the control panel 58, the entiresupport channel 59 is removable simply by unscrewing the fastening means52. Consequently, any of the control switches, such as 69, may beserviced in this manner from the front of the appliance. The rear of thecontrol housing is closed by a'straight sheet metal rear panel 82 whichmay also be fastened in any suitable manner to the end housings 22 and23.

With further reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, an ex planation of theconstruction for the lamp housing portion will be set forth. The upperlamp housing 20 has a die cast frame which forms a right-hand end walland a left-hand end wall 92 interconnected by an integral frontattachment flange or transverse strut 94 and a rear lamp housing wall 96from which is spaced a parallel transversely extending rib or web 98.The rear wall 96 of the upper lamp housing and its spaced webbing 98forms a U-shaped channel 1% in which electrical conduits may be disposedfor a fluorescent tube 102 which may be supported at its opposite endson the lamp housing end walls 90, 92 in any conventional manner. Anopening (not shown) in the bottom of the channel will be used fordirecting the lamp wiring into the control housing. The upper lamphousing casting is also formed with transversely extending shoulders 104and 106 which extend from end wall 96 to end wall 92 to support an Thecontrol housing end may be die upper reversely bent translucent lampshade 108. An elongated or transverse bracket 199 anchors one end of theshade on the shoulder 106. If necessary a similar bracket (not shown)may be fastened to the cast frame to tie down the free end of the shadestop side. The shade 168 is made of semi-opaque methyl methacrylate andis bent double to define the control panel illuminating portion 32 and adiametrically opposite illuminating portion 34 for lighting up theappliance area when the lamp housing is closed. Note that the cast frameof the upper lamp housing is formed with a window or opening 110 betweenthe shoulders 104 and 106 to cireumscribe or outline the shade portion32.

For locking the upper lamp housing and the upper lamp shade 108 inattached relationship, a sheet metal upper lamp cover 114 includes anattachment lip or turned over flange 116 which fits or hooks over thehousing attachment strut 94 the entire cover then being pivotable intolocking engagement with a lamp cover latch piece 118. The lamp coverlatch 118 is formed of spring metal having juxtaposed legs 129, 121which grippingly engage the webbing 93 of the upper lamp housing. Thelamp cover latch piece includes also a keeper portion 124 whichcooperates with a struck-out tang 126 on the rear wall or turned downflange 128 of the upper lamp cover 114. Thus, with the upper lamp coverattached to the front of the upper lamp housing by the flange 116, therear wall 128 may be pivoted downwardly, the tang 126 camming the coverlatch keeper portion 124 inwardly until it snaps over the hump and locksthe upper lamp housing in assembled relationship with the die castframe. Note how the flange wall 128 merges with the frame wall 96 toform a smooth coplanar surface at the rear of the lamp housing. Torelease the latch 118 a screwdriver need only be inserted and twistedbetween the meeting edges of cover wall 128 and casting wall 96,Additional stability is provided for the upper lamp cover 114 at eachside thereof by a rib such as 130 which nests along the inner sides ofthe frame end walls 90, 92 when the lamp housing is assembled. The ribs130 may be formed with turned-over flanges such as 132 which lay injuxtaposition to the upper lamp cover and may be fastened thereto as bywelding along the jointure. A cutout 112 in the upper lamp coveroutlines or frames the shade portion 34the inherent resiliency of theshade causing the shade portion 34 to bear tightly against the undersideof the lamp cover.

The user will need access to the control panel 26 to proscribe a desiredoperating cycle. Consequently, the lamp housing is pivoted to its raisedcontrol panel illuminating position. It is necessary that the lamphousing remain in its raised position without falling and, for thisreason, a yieldable latch arrangement is provided. Formed on eachcontrol housing end casting 22 and 23 is an integral cylindricalsocket146 into which fits a latch bolt 142 biased outwardly by a spring 144.The rear wall 96 of the upper lamp housing is formed with a recess 146in vertical coplanar relationship to the bolt 142, thereby yieldablylatching the lamp housing in its raised position.

When it is desired to position the lamp housing 20 in its loweredposition of FIGURE 1, the lamp housing may be grasped at its front edgethereof and lowered into its closed position. It is desirable that therebe a certain amount of resistance to this downward motion so that thelamp housing will not drop :damagingly on the control panel. For thisreason, a brake-type pivot arrangement is utilized at each end of thelamp housing to pivot the lamp housing to the control housing end walls22 and 23. This braking pivot is shown in section in FIGURE 4 as itapplies to the pivot connection between the control housing end wall 23and the upper lamp housing end wall 92. The control housing end wall 23is formed with a shouldered aperture 156 which receives a double-headedpivot pin 24 having a threaded portion 154 at one end thereof. A nylonwasher 156 is placed about the pivot pin 24 and interposed between thecontrol housing wall 23 and lamp housing wall 92. Abutting a brakingshoulder or embossment 158 on the lamp housing wall 92 is a frictionalbraking washer 160 of neoprene asbestos or other suitable frictionalmaterial. Next, a steel washer 162 abuts the frictional washer 160 andis prevented from relative rotation with the pivot pin 24 by means of asingle flat sided portion 164 on the pivot pin. A Bellville springwasher 166 is juxtaposed with the steel Washer 162 and in sandwichedrelationship with a second steel washer 168 held against rotation by adouble-D flat 164, 169 on the pivot pin. The stacked assembly of brakewashers and compression washers are retained on the shank of the pivotpin by a nut 170 working in cooperation with a lock washer 172. The nut170 may be tightened until the desired braking characteristic for thelamp housing pivotal movement is acquired. It should be understood thatthe same braking pivotal arrangement is used in connection with thepivot pin 24 on the right-hand control housing end wall 22. With thisbraking arrangement, a slight amount of force is required to lower thelamp housing 26 to its closed position, thereby preventing any droppingor shocking movement on the part of the lamp housing which might damagethe lamp 102 therein.

it should now be seen that a novel illuminating arrangement has beenprovided for an appliance wherein a lamp housing is provided withilluminating surfaces on two sides thereof. One side is eflective toilluminate a control panel when the lamp housing is in one position andthe other side thereof is elfective to illuminate the area surroundingthe appliance when the lamp housing is in another or closed position.This arrangement will elfcct a clean and neat appearance for theappliance when it is not in use and will also protect the controls frommanipulation by small children.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed,constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adapted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with an appliance, a control console having a controlhousing and a lamp housing, said control housing including a pair of endwalls connected to said appliance, a U-shaped support channelinterconnecting said end walls, a control panel carried by said supportchannel, a control fastened to said support channel and having anactuator extending through said control panel, a first trim stripbetween said end walls and tastened to one side of said support channelfor retaining the front of said control panel and for defining a frontwall for said control housing, a second trim strip between said endwalls and fastened to the opposite side of said support channel forretaining the rear of said control panel, a spring biased detent on oneof said end walls, and a pivot pin on each of said end walls forpivotally supporting said lamp housing between raised and loweredpositions, said lamp housing including a frame having a front strut anda rear wall and defining a control panel lamp opening, a spring clipattached to said frame adjacent said rear wall, an upper lamp covercoextensive with said frame and having a front flange engaging saidstrut and a rear flange latchingly engaging said spring clip in a mannerto place said frame rear wall coplanar with said rear flange and aU-shaped lamp shade. said lamp cover defining a second lamp opening andrestraining said lamp shade between said frame and said cover, said rearwall of said frame having a notch in alignment with said detent forreceiving said detent when said lamp housing is in its raised position,and illuminating means in said lamp housing adjacent said lamp openings,whereby said control panel is illuminated when said lamp housing is insaid raised position and whereby said control panel is covered and thearea surrounding the appliance illuminated when said lamp housing is insaid lowered position.

2. In combination with an appliance having a switch,

a control housing for supporting said switch and an upper lamp housinghaving a frame and an upper lamp cover releasably attached to saidframe, said upper lamp cover having an upper lamp aperture, said framehaving a lower lamp aperture, illuminating means attached to said framewithin said lamp housing, a unitary translucent shade having a firstportion adjacent said upper lamp aperture and a second portion adjacentsaid lower lamp aperture, means on one of said housings adjacent saidswitch for pivotally supporting said lamp housing between a raisedposition wherein said switch is exposed and illuminated and a loweredposition wherein said switch is substantially completely concealed,detent means on one of said housings cooperating with notch means on theother of said housings for releasably latching said lamp housing in saidraised position, and brake means including a spring biased frictionalwasher on said pivotal support means for resisting the movement of saidlamp housing to said lowered position.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,761,345 Isackson June 3, 1930 1,805,973 Cameron May 19, 1931 2,295,268Pellegrin et al Sept. 8, 1942 2,322,426 Dreyfuss June 22, 1943 2,559,224Quidor July 3, 1951 2,758,900 Marchand Aug. 14, 1956 2,805,324 ZedricSept. 3, 1957 2,876,337 Fischer Mar. 3, 1959

2. IN COMBINATION WITH AN APPLIANCE HAVING A SWITCH, A CONTROL HOUSINGFOR SUPPORTING SAID SWITCH AND AN UPPER LAMP HOUSING HAVING A FRAME ANDAN UPPER LAMP COVER RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME, SAID UPPER LAMPCOVER HAVING AN UPPER LAMP APERTURE, SAID FRAME HAVING A LOWER LAMPAPERTURE, ILLUMINATING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME WITHIN SAID LAMPHOUSING, A UNITARY TRANSLUCENT SHADE HAVING A FIRST PORTION ADJACENTSAID UPPER LAMP APERTURE AND A SECOND PORTION ADJACENT SAID LOWER LAMPAPERTURE, MEANS ON ONE OF SAID HOUSINGS ADJACENT SAID SWITCH FORPIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID LAMP HOUSING BETWEEN A RAISED POSITION WHEREINSAID SWITCH IS EXPOSED AND ILLUMINATED